PCSD draft plan for bilingual education leaves some parents calling for the decision to be paused
Some parents in the Port Chester School District voiced their concerns on Monday over a draft plan for the future of the district's bilingual education programs.
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A draft plan from the Port Chester School District is raising concerns in the community, as school officials argue that nothing is set in stone yet.
A parent shared a photo of the draft plan with News 12 from a school meeting last week.
The plan appears to restructure bilingual offerings by school by gradually shifting some schools away from dual language programs.
King Street Elementary's Dual Language Program, which allows native English and Spanish speakers to learn alongside each other in the same classroom, appears to begin phasing out starting this September.
A lottery system would then be used to enroll prospective students in a dual language program offered at a different school.
"I think that the hurdles that we've heard from the superintendent, the board of education, they're painting a picture of a failing program, and it absolutely isn't," said parent Isavela Pace.
Representatives for the district issued the following statement:
"The Port Chester School District is not cancelling the dual language program. Our focus has been on conducting a review of our bilingual education offerings, with the primary goal of making sure we are meeting the needs of all our students and remaining attentive to the trends in kindergarten enrollment.
As we discussed, the district (like many other school districts in our area) has been experiencing a decline in enrollment, which may affect the number of students registering for the two-way program, in kindergarten, at King Street School. The draft plan that was previously shared with you by King Street parents is just that—a draft. We cannot finalize any plans until the kindergarten registration and screening process is complete. Our commitment to families remains strong, and we will continue to support the dual language pathway for students who have already embarked on this journey.
In June, once kindergarten registration and screening are behind us, we’ll have a much clearer understanding of student numbers. This insight will guide our ongoing planning and help us make informed decisions for our incoming King Street kindergarten class."
Parents tell News 12 they plan to voice their concerns at a board meeting on Thursday.
